Brazil’s Varig Forced to Fly Out of Star Alliance

Brazilian airline Varig will be forced to leave the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, by the end of January, Star Alliance said recently, according to a news report posted on the its own website.

The information reveals that Varig will no longer be a member of Star Alliance as of January 31, a decision prompted by the current restructuring of the airline in which the old Varig brand continued to be a Star Alliance member, operating a reduced flight schedule on behalf of a new company, VRG –the new Varig.

Star Alliance and its member carriers, the report says, will ensure that the impact of this decision on international travelers will be kept to a minimum.

Star Alliance continues to offer the most intercontinental flights serving more cities in Brazil than any other alliance and will continue to expand its services in this important and growing aviation market, the information concludes.

Star Alliance member carriers Air Canada, Lufthansa, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal and United together provide more than 270 weekly flights to Africa, Europe and North America from half a dozen destinations in Brazil.